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Doron Parks
ENG 1020
Katrina Newsom
3 March 2016
Rhythm Blues
Rhythm and Blues is a genre of music that has been very popular since the
1950’s. Music is put in to genres because there are many different kinds of music. The
definition of genre is “genre - an expressive style of music” (Online Dictionary). Each
kind of music has its own style, feel, and soul. The sound of R&B is very diverse many
sounds and aspects can make up an R&B song. Webster’s definition of R&B is “R and
B - a combination of blues and jazz that was developed in the United States by Black
musicians; an important precursor of rock 'n' roll” (Online Dictionary). Rap which is a
new genre of music that is much more popular and present in the world today has be
criticized by musicians as not being real music .The definition of Rap is “a type of
rhythmic talking, often with accompanying rhythm instruments; rap music.”( Online
Dictionary). Rap is not considered music because there doesn’t seem to be as much
work being done as other styles of music. Rap artist and producers can produce a rap
song by simply making a beat and putting sounds together and someone just speaking
over the beat. “Describing the (disenchanting) chanting of “Rap Music” as singing or as
music is indeed (in either case) a capital misnomer. Real Music is the careful
arrangement of organized sounds in the form of notes that then result in a smooth blend
of rhythm, tone, and pitch that when united, is quite pleasing to the ear”(Dubya).
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Rapping can be seen as just talking and not involving any real talent unlike singing.
Because Rap is seen to be easy and not real musicians would say that it could not fit in
the genre of R&B. Rap music does fit the genre of R&B because Rap music is very
diverse and can have many different styles as R&B does, Rap and R&B come from the
same decent, and making Rap music requires talent and skill.
Rap music is a very diverse in its sound as R&B is. They can both go from a soft
smooth groove to a heavy party beat. R&B as a genre is very unclear; there is no
pinpointed style or way to do it. “As early as the mid-1950s, it was unclear whether the
term R&B could really be ascribed to any one particular form” (Dean ). R&B artist make
music that can be placed in so many other categories unlike other genres that usually
stay in one lane “with many performers issuing recordings which fit into both categories
and others, such as Dinah Washington, hitting the R&B charts despite later establishing
jazz singer credentials.” (Dean). Since R&B is such a wide genre that can reach so
many audiences and genres it can be said that Rap music fits the genre of R&B. One
song that is performed by a Rap artist that can be argued to be a R&B song is Rick
Ross’s “Aston Martin Music” ft. Chrisette Michele and Drake. “Aston Martin Music” is
another effortless R&B-hued Hip-Hop song that Ross and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League have
crafted. Chrisette Michele sounds flawless as usual, but the Drake bridge sounds
somewhat disjointed from the rest of the song. Not that it sounds bad, but it sounds as if
it was cut and pasted in from a Drizzy song. Overall, this song is more than adequate as
it relates to the landscape in radio, TV and general marketable music. After listening
three times I a row, I gave up trying to determine what Aston Marton Music actually was
”(Illseed). This song shows the softer side of Rap. There is a well arranged instrumental
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and a beautiful vocals to make the song complete. Rap is more than just words being
said over a beat there is actual work and beautiful to its finish products.
Rap and R&B rooted from the same place and people. African Americans have
come up with many styles of music. Rap and R&B are simply examples of African
Americans have offered. All music created by African American music is rooted from
slave songs from slavery. Once free African American’s created there on style of music
in the church and used what they knew to create other genres of music “the origins of
the music are not particularly well documented. It is clearly influenced by the work
songs of the deep South, ragtime, church music, minstrel shows and folk, even some
forms of white popular music”(Dean). African Americans used whatever was going on at
the time to create a new genre of music. The Blues came from the segregation and
abuse black people were getting in the 50’s. African Americans used the Blues to
express their feelings and heartache. As things in the world got better for African
Americans the music got happier. African Americans wanted to be main stream; they
wanted to take their music to new heights. Thus Motown and other record labels
created a more pop sounding music that white people would like in the 1960’s. As time
goes on different sounds are created for each era. So Rap and R&B are just different
versions of each other. Black music for each era is just a slightly changed version of the
previous era. With that being said Rap can fit in the genre of R&B because they come
from the same roots therefore are related and can identify with each other.
Rap music has been criticized as not being real music “Rap is not music. The
unpleasant-sounding horror is chaotic dissonance and certainly not elegant
consonance. Rap is veritable noise pollution that is tastelessly amplified from a
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cumbersome boom box. Generally speaking, unlike black soul music and traditional
black rhythm and blues, Rap is both heartless and soulless. Standard love songs show
respect and consideration for a member of the opposite gender but most contemporary
Rap lyrics promote a hedonistic “me first” ghetto survival theme that is cruelly
perpetuated upon its afflicted listening audience” (Dubya). Rap is music, music is about
expression and telling a story, through Rap music rappers tell stories. The stories they
tell may not be something all people want hear but nevertheless they are still stories.
Rapping is a talent if it was not a talent anyone could do it well. Singing for example is a
talent but everyone can sing its just a matter of if it sounds good or not. Making the
music for Rap songs is a skill that needs to be obtained. Not anyone can go in to a
studio and make a great beat that is consistent, has a flow, and sounds good.
Producers that make these beat are coming up with them on their own, they make
decision on if something sounds right to them or it doesn’t, just like musicians that play
instruments not everything is going to sound right therefore skills are required to make
this kind and all music. Rap music is very misunderstood but in the end it is music, and
it does require talent and/or skill. R&B requires all these things and can identify with
Rap music and vice versa.
Rap music can fit into the definition of R&B(Rhythm and Blues) because Rap is
very diverse and can have many styles to it as R&B does. Rap and R&B go hand and
hand, because these two styles of music can identify with many other genres. Rap
music and R&B come from the same decent, African Americans are responsible for
some of the greatest genres of much the world have seen and these two are examples
of that. Because they have the same roots Rap and R&B identify with each other. Rap
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is just a more present from of R&B. Like R&B doing the genre of Rap requires skill,
talent, soul, and many other elements for it to be done great.
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WORK CITED
1.
Dean, Peter. "Shades of Blue: Shades R&B History." Shades Of Blue. Web. 18
Mar. 2011. <http://www.rhythmandtheblues.org.uk/public/shadeshistory/>.
2.
The History of R&B. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://randbhistory.250x.com/>.
3.
Online Dictionary. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. <http://webster-dictionary.org/>.
4.
Dubya, Jay. "Rap Music Is Not Music (article)." AuthorsDen. Web. 22 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=18543>.
5.
Illseed. "Review: Rick Ross: "Teflon Don"" Http://allhiphop.com. 20 July 2010.
Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://allhiphop.com>.